A Grand Vacation: The 2012 Grand Floridian FAQ!

[k&a&c'smom]

Hi all! Just returned from a short whirlwind trip in which I visited the stunning GF lobby, all decked out for the holidays. What is the scent in there right now? It seems to be different from the last time I was there. I work for Yankee Candle & it was exactly like our holiday scent, Sugared Apple. Now every day at work I'm going to be sniffing that one, in hopes of whisking me away back to my trip!

I don't know for sure, as I haven't been there since August - but I imagine you were smelling the gingerbread house. When we have visited during the holidays, the smell of gingerbread overwhelms the normal lobby smell, very festive!

Just came back from our first ever stay at the Grand. It was a short 3 night stay but AMAZING!

We were celebrating my daughter's birthday and got blessed with some pixie dust!

Our first night we came back from Osborne Family Lights to birthday/trip gifts for my kids. My daughter got a stuffed Minnie with a signed Birthday card, my son got a stuffed Mickey and a signed happy trip card and both kids got coloring books and crayons.

The next day my daughter received a Grand Floridian Happy Birthday chocolate heart shaped box with candy inside.

We were in a marina view in Conch Key on the first floor which was perfect after long days of park hopping!

The room was beautiful, the beds were comfy and we would definitely stay there again...with the right discount of course! Only wish there had been a bounceback offer!

So glad you had a magical stay, congrats on the great room and treats for the kids! Always love to hear guests were given unexpected magic.

Welcome back - this lurker from Bay Lake was worried about you

Aww, thanks! I've missed chatting with everyone. I'm sorry I worried you, and anyone else here. I fell behind and got out of the habit of logging in each morning. Not a good enough excuse, but my DD stole my computer chair, so I don't sit at my desk much lately.

 

[Bishope2]

I just went to the new website to check things out. I posted a previous question regarding the location of garden view rooms. Much apprecited the replies. That said, the new website shows a few pictures of a garden view room. A couple of things I noticed. They indicated a garden view room may give you a view of the marina, pool and I think gardens (or maybe it said parking lot...lol)

I do have another question regarding balconies. If on an upper level floor, do all rooms have balconies or would I have to request it? Thanks

 

[DetTigsGal]

I just went to the new website to check things out. I posted a previous question regarding the location of garden view rooms. Much apprecited the replies. That said, the new website shows a few pictures of a garden view room. A couple of things I noticed. They indicated a garden view room may give you a view of the marina, pool and I think gardens (or maybe it said parking lot...lol)

I do have another question regarding balconies. If on an upper level floor, do all rooms have balconies or would I have to request it? Thanks

When we stay at GF, we book garden view and request sago marina view. They do all have balconies- even first floor has enclosed patio. We prefer any floor except the top.

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

I just went to the new website to check things out. I posted a previous question regarding the location of garden view rooms. Much apprecited the replies. That said, the new website shows a few pictures of a garden view room. A couple of things I noticed. They indicated a garden view room may give you a view of the marina, pool and I think gardens (or maybe it said parking lot...lol)

I do have another question regarding balconies. If on an upper level floor, do all rooms have balconies or would I have to request it? Thanks

You are correct that garden view rooms can have a variety of views. Pool, marina, garden, monorail - I've had them all and honestly haven't found a bad one yet.

All rooms in this category will have a balcony. Only exceptions to the rule at the GF are 4 deluxe garden view rooms, 1 outer lodge club level room, and 6 of the deluxe king rooms in the main building.

 

[Swirly girls]

We're going to be staying here, club level, theme park room.
I'd love to see pictures of these rooms and these areas of the resort!

 

[bethclayton]

hello everyone! it's been a while! i don't mean to disappear, it's just that i don't currently have a disney trip booked, and to be honest, it makes me sad to read about disney when i do not have any sort of a date set. everything's fine, there was just some confusion regarding where we were vacationing this year and with whom... but that seems to be resolved and i believe we will be booking a trip to wdw for this august- just the four of us- to celebrate my big 40! i think i am going to wait until the discounts come out to book, though, since i am a little unclear as to whether it will be a dining deal or a room discount, and that would probably affect whether or not we do CL.

in any case, i came here to post an update to the saga that some of you will remember from my april trip- when they mistakenly charged my debit card thousands of dollars, it took a few days of hard work and stress to straighten it out, and no one working at the GF showed even an ounce of care (except for my beloved CL gal who kept me well supplied with wine throughout the process ). i got eye rolls, sighs, and no apology.

i badly broke my right wrist and elbow right after we returned from our vacation and could not type at length until about august. i really wanted to email guest services about our experience but by that time, it seemed ridiculous, as so much time has passed. but to be honest, the whole experience still has me bothered, and as we have been thinking about booking for my birthday, i have really had a hesitation due to how i was treated when i was there. i miss disney but it really lost a lot of its magic due to the attitudes of the GF staff during our stay and we were leaning towards spending our vacation budget on atlantis instead.

because this was bugging me so much, i decided to email guest services even though so much time has passed, to see if anyone could at least acknowledge that the situation should have been handled differently.

a woman from wdw called me this weekend and was so unbelievably apologetic, i was blown away. i don't think i've ever spoken with anyone nicer than her. and she absolutely offered us an opportunity to allow them to make up for that experience, if we choose to visit there again. it's not as though she gave us a free vacation, lol, but certainly a goodwill gesture to help make things right. she told me repeatedly that the way the situation was handled was "horrible," and how upset she was hearing about it, and that it must have been so stressful, etc. i felt so much better after talking to her!

since i had vented on here previously about our experience, i felt it was only fair to mention that the gf has certainly tried to rectify this situation since my recent email to guest services. i am very impressed.

 

[VS85]

Hi everyone! I am at the airport getting ready to board my flight to Orlando! I just wanted to thank all of you for all the info, tips, tricks, and for answering so many of my questions!! I am so excited for my trip!!! I hope all of you have a great week - can't wait to update you when I get back!

 

[cgulls]

I just went to the new website to check things out. I posted a previous question regarding the location of garden view rooms. Much apprecited the replies. That said, the new website shows a few pictures of a garden view room. A couple of things I noticed. They indicated a garden view room may give you a view of the marina, pool and I think gardens (or maybe it said parking lot...lol)

I do have another question regarding balconies. If on an upper level floor, do all rooms have balconies or would I have to request it? Thanks

wait . . . what new website?

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

wait . . . what new website?

There is a new version of the Disney website available to preview.

The gallery shows each category of rooms, as well as accessible rooms. It's actually pretty nice. One thing I've noticed is the outer lodge lagoon view and theme park view rooms. Lagoon view, all the views I can make out are those in Big Pine Key facing south, which is what I have found should be the rooms in this category. Theme Park view appears to be the rest of the lagoon front rooms in the resort - anyone else notice how every room has a tree visible? Which generally has been our luck with this view, there was one picture that could have even been the last room we stayed in because the tree looked in the right position. I'm glad I actually know for sure that is what they are advertising.

 

[cgulls]

There is a new version of the Disney website available to preview.

The gallery shows each category of rooms, as well as accessible rooms. It's actually pretty nice. One thing I've noticed is the outer lodge lagoon view and theme park view rooms. Lagoon view, all the views I can make out are those in Big Pine Key facing south, which is what I have found should be the rooms in this category. Theme Park view appears to be the rest of the lagoon front rooms in the resort - anyone else notice how every room has a tree visible? Which generally has been our luck with this view, there was one picture that could have even been the last room we stayed in because the tree looked in the right position. I'm glad I actually know for sure that is what they are advertising.

What's the URL for the new / preview site? When I go to disneyworld.com it's the old site. And I can't seem to find anything via Google.

 

[jcondrad]

I swore I posted this morning but don't see it ??


Anyways checked out this morning and Gasparilla was still not open as of 1030am, for those of you waiting!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

What's the URL for the new / preview site? When I go to disneyworld.com it's the old site. And I can't seem to find anything via Google.

I had a link at the top of that page that said something like try the new site now, it was on a white top border. And since I've tried it, every time I go to disneyworld.com it shows up, I can't seem to go back to the old one.

It seems to focus on "My Disney Experience" and seems like it will attempt to have you create a whole itinerary/plan - probably to implement the new Fastpass program.

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

cgulls, here is an article about the new site: http://www.wdwmagic.com/resorts/walt-disney-world-resorts-information/news/15dec2012-new-official-walt-disney-world-website-roll-out-begins-including-'my-disney-experience'.htm It notes that it isn't yet available to all users.

Also, here are WDW Magic's lastest construction pictures of the villas: http://www.wdwmagic.com/resorts/disneys-grand-floridian-dvc/news/17dec2012-photos---disney's-grand-floridian-resort-dvc-wing-construction-update.htm We might be able to see the overall roofline around the beginning of the year.

 

[ppiew]

Please don't flame me but the following is my observations at the GF during a recent stay. I personally do NOT like the lobby decor. It is dark and gloomy not the light and lovely salmon, green, and blue of the previous decor. Hate to say it but it reminds me of a 1940's funeral home. UGH! I also miss the iconic floral display upon entering. The GF in tile in the floor just doesn't cut it for me. We were in a concierge room at about $700 per night. The room was large and lovely, but the bedding was Motel 6. I really think rooms of that price should have Frette bedding as they do on the Disney Fantasy and Dream. A cotton/poly blend is just unacceptable. I could go on and on, but I really think they need to jack up the decor a lot. Even V&A's seems dark now. I like the remodeling but the monochromatic color is depressing. When I mentioned some of my concerns to GS, they agreed! Apparently it is not universally liked by them either. Well got it off my chest - it has been bugging me since we came home as I remember the resort so fondly and was really disappointed. I think it will be back to Boardwalk or AKL for me.

 

[sydneysmom]

I had a link at the top of that page that said something like try the new site now, it was on a white top border. And since I've tried it, every time I go to disneyworld.com it shows up, I can't seem to go back to the old one.

It seems to focus on "My Disney Experience" and seems like it will attempt to have you create a whole itinerary/plan - probably to implement the new Fastpass program.

I can't get back to the old site either...and the new site says it doesn't regognize my reservations!! But when I went to the site on my iPad, it's the old site and thankfully everything is still there...

The new site looks very nice and it's nice to have the updated pics, but they need to work the kinks out so that you can pull up your resort and dining reservations and not give people a heart attack!

 

[pas130]

pas130, do you think your family will stay in a villa at the GF eventually? All of you would fit in a 2 BR, wouldn't you?

I sure hope so I've wanted to try BLT, but my precious HRH doesn't like it Yeppers we can fit in a 2BR!!! And DH might not complain if we had a villa!!! He likes the kitchen W/D living space!!!!!

Hello to BethClayton Glad GS made it right!!!! And I totally understand avaioding the Dis when a trip isn't being planned...it can make you miss WDW even more!

 

[Luvamouse]

So are we not lucky enough to have anyone staying there with an update of GG? I know someone passed along that the Cm's at Mizners said the 22nd for reopening, and I saw a picture-- Twitter pic? Maybe WDW Magic? -- showing the windows unblocked I believe Tuesday, and so I expect they are stocking and setting up?? Just so excited to have that done when we arrive. I hope!

 

[HFC1969]

Here at GFlo now. Gasperillas open tomorrow. Paper is off the windows. Arcade is now where kids club was. Tons more seating. Food area and kitchen looks the same.

 

[Luvamouse]

Thank you, HFC1969! I know I have another 11 days, but I was dying to know

 

[HFC1969]

No problem. Gflo looks amazing as ever.

The room trusses are being installed on the DVC property.

Have a Merry Christmas everyone!